Collapsible steel chair



Aug. 1952 c. T. CARLSON COLLAPSIBLE STEEL CHAIR 2 SI-lEETSSl'IEET 1 Filed Aug. 18, 1948 Carl T. Car/son IN VEXTO R.

1952 c. T. CARLSON I 2,606,597

I COLLAPSIBLE STEEL CHAIR Filed Aug. 18, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Carl T. Car/son IN VENTOR.

BY MM 3% Patented Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT was COLLAPSIBLE STEEL CHAIR Carl T. Carlson, Iron Mountain, Mich. Application August 18, 1948, Serial N0. 44,846 Y 6 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a collapsible steel chair and more specifically pertains to a folding or collapsible chair construction which represents an improvement over the construction set forth in my copending application Serial No. 748,151, filed May 18, 1947, now matured into Patent No. 2,467,963 of April 19, 1949, for Steel Folding Chair.

The principal purpose of this invention and a fundamental concept thereof is to provide a collapsible steel chair wherein the seat and front leg portions are pivotally connected to the back portion and to each other for simultaneous folding movement against the back in order to collapse the chair.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a collapsible chair as set forth in the preceding object wherein a positive abutting action is provided between the front and rear leg assemblies when the chair is in its assembled position, and wherein an improved hinging of the folding portions of the chair to the rear leg assembly is provided.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a forwardly extending support bracket mounted intermediately of the rear leg assembly, to which are pivotally connected a folding seat assembly and a folding front leg assembly, in an improved manner.

A still further feature of the invention resides in a novel construction of the folding front leg assembly for providing a more positive abutting action between the front and rear leg assemblies in the assembled position of the chair, and wherein any interference between the folding action of the two assemblies is averted.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which is to be illustrated by Way of example. only in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a front perspective view, parts being broken away, showing a satisfactory embodiment of the invention illustrating the principles thereof;

Figure 2 is a perspective view taken from the rear of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view showing certain constructional features of the seat and rear leg assembly and is taken substantially upon the plane of the broken section line 33 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the chair in its collapsed instead of its assembled position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational view out of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevational view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 1--1 of Figure 6, illustrating the mounting of the front leg assembly upon the supporting brackets of the rear leg assembly, and the abutting action of the front and rear legs of the device;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional detail view taken substantially on the plane of the section line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure '7 but of a modified construction of the invention; and,

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 but of a still further modification of the invention.

Referring now more specificall-yto the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, attentionis directed first to the embodiment of Figures 1-8 wherein the numeral Ill designates each of the rear legs of the chair which are rigidly connected by transverselyextending re-enforcing panels l2 which are in turn joined by interconnecting vertically. disposed slats or rods M, to thus form a unitary and substantially rigid rear leg and conventional back assembly of a chair.

As will be more clearlyseen by reference to Figures '7 and 8, the rear legs III are provided intermediate their ends withlongitudinally or vertically disposed slots IS in their front surfaces, in which are rigidly but removably secured as by screws 18 or the like, forwardly extending support brackets 20 in' the form of metallic plates or the like. A pair of front legs indicated at 2 2 are provided at their upperand rear ends with medial, longitudinally exten'dingslots or notches 24 which thus provide furcations 26 and 28, these furcations straddling or receiving the forwardly extending portion of thebracket '20, as will be readily understood fromFig'ures 7. and 8. Screws, rivets or other fasteners 30 extend through the furcations 26 and 28 for pivotallysupporting the legs 22 upon the lower and outer or forward edges of the support brackets 20. Secured to the upper and. forward edges of the brackets 20 and screw threadedly engaged therebetween, is an axle or fulcrum rod or shaft 32, which overlies or is vertically spaced from the pivot pins 30, and is likewise disposed forwardly of the rear legs IE1. By a special reference to Figures 5, 7, and 8, it will be seen that the upper or rearend of the legs 22 are provided with a flat surface which is adapted to abut against the forward surface of the rear legs I0, when the front legs are folded into their assembled position, and to'permit such abutting engagement for the two leg, assemblies, this rear surface of the front legs 22 is provided with a cut away or notch portion 34 in the furcations 26, 28, as will be seen by reference to Figures 5 and 8. This notch 34 thus gives clearance for the axle 3'2 thus permitting the front legs to be folded into their assembled position without interference with or by the axle 32.

Loosely journaled on the axle 32 is a seat assembly 36 having parallel sideframe members 38 whichzaresuitably journaled upon the axle. 32. As will be more clearly seen by reference to Figures 2 and 4, the frame members 38 have rigidly attached to their inner surfaces downwardly and rearwardly extending lever 40 which are pivotally connected as at 42 to similar upwardly-extending lever 44 carried by and secured to the front legs 22. This lever arrangementis so arranged that the seat assembly 36 and the frontlegs 22 are compelled to move in. opposite directions simultaneously whereby either member may be employed to collapse or'assemble the seat and leg construction of the chair.

It'will be furthernoted that' the rear portion of the-seat'36 extends'asufilcient distance rearwardl'y-ofthe supporting axle 32,- to enable this extending portion to be engagedon the under surface of a transversely extending frame'member-46, carriedby therear leg I whereby the weight which'the-seat 36 supports may be carried jointly by the axle 32" and by this frame member 46.

By reason of the positioning of the axle 32 and the'pivotpins30forwardly of the'rear;legs Ill and in vertically; spaced position, a verycompact folding of theseat and leg assemblies against the 'rearlegs is permitted as shown in Figure 5.

In furtherance of the-foregoing construction and mode of operation, attention is directed to Figure 9 wherein it will be seen that the frame members 38 ofithe chairiseat 35 and the upper or'rear ends of the'front legs 22 are provided with substantially-circular, metallic. plates 48 and 50, which'respectivelyv encirclethe axle. 32

and'the' pivot pins30, and are rigidly attached the link 52 abovementioneda further positive,

interconnectingmeans between'the folding operation of the'seat'andpfront leg assemblies may be provided by forming teeth 58 and.89.-upon the metallicplates 48 and'lill to .providein conjunction withthe link'52la further interconnecting timed and positive engagement between these parts;

From the foregoing, the mannenof constructing and operating .the device wi11..be. readilyunderstood' and furtheryexplanationis. believed to be unnecessary;

However, since numerous. modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the.

art after a considerationofthe-foregoing specificationand accompanying. drawingait is not desired to limitv the invention to the. exact construction shown and described, but allsuitable modifications and, equivalents may be resorted The distances and 4 to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed and described the invention, what isclaimed as new is as follows:

1. A collapsible chairincluding a unitary back and rear leg assembly, said rear leg assembly having rear leg, support brackets mounted intermediate the ends of and within said rear legs, an axle-journaled in said brackets, a front leg assembly pivoted on said brackets, a seat assembly attached to said axle for pivotal movement thereon, said'front leg assembly having upper surface in abutting engagement against said rear leg assembly in the erect position of the chair, and notches in said upper surfaces. to provide clearances for said axle.

2. The combination of claim 1 wliereinsaid axle ispositioned in front of said rear leg assembly and said seat assembly extends rearwardly of said axlewhereby said rearwardextension is engageable beneath a portion of said back. assembly for abutment therewith.

3. The combination of claim l'including a connecting means secured'to, said seat and leg assemblies for effecting simultaneous pivoted movement thereof in opposite directions.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said brackets comprise'plates mounted in longitudinal slots in the front surfaces of their rear legs and.

extending forwardl therefrom, said front leg assembly having bifurcations receiving and pivoted to the forward end of said plates.

5. The combination of claim 4 whereinsaid notches are provided in the inside branches of the bifurcations, the ends of the axle terminating inwardly of the outer branches of the bifurcations.

6. A collapsible chair including a unitary back and rear. leg assembly, said rear legassembly' clearances for said axle, a connecting means secured to saidseat and leg assemblies for effecting simultaneouspivoted movement thereof in opposite directions, said means comprising a downwardly extendin lever-attached to said seat assembly, an upwardly extending lever attached to said front leg assembly, said downwardly extending leverbeing pivotally attached to' said upwardl extending lever.

CARL T. CARLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 556,418 Hubbard Mar. 17, 1896 564,575 Truesdell July 21, 1896 935,306 Jennings Sept. 28, 1909 1,695,117 McKee Dec. 11, 1928 2,407,786

Keest Sept. 1'7, 1946 

